Message received - by the Detroit Red Wings and by Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou.
A healthy scratch for Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Anaheim, Athanasiou responded with a goal and and two assists in a three-goal first period as the Wings blanked the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 Thursday at the Staples Center.
Detroit winger Thomas Vanek, who scored both goals from which Athanasiou drew helpers, could see the improvement in his linemate’s performance compared to recent games.
“I thought AA did a good job for us,… Vanek said. “His speed brings a different element to our line. He was the difference.
“There’s a few guys that have speed but it’s all about confidence. When he feels good about his game, you see a player like this tonight. It’s Fransy’s (center Frans Nielsen) and my job to keep him honest, keep making sure he does his things.
“Like I said, he’s a special player. We’ve got to make sure he feels good about his game because then he can make a difference.…
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill was tight-lipped on his reasons for sitting Athanasiou but reading between the lines it was evident that his work ethic of late was not up to snuff.
“All I’m going to say on that – other than that it’ll be held internally – is I expect our guys to come and work and compete every day, in games and practices,… Blashill said. “Every single day. That’s all I’m going to say about it.…
Apparently, he also said little about it to Athanasiou.
“We didn’t talk about it too much,… Athanasiou said. “It’s the kind of thing you put in the past and move forward.…
The coach offered plenty of praise Athanasiou’s way after Thursday’s victory.
“Ultimately we’re a better team when AA’s going at a high level and he was going at a high level tonight,… Blashill said.
Blashill also blasted his team for carrying too many passengers in Wednesday’s loss but the drive to the net and the second-chance opportunities he’s been seeking from his team to create were plentiful in Thursday’s triumph.
“I think yesterday wasn’t good enough and we all knew that,… Vanek said. “Tonight we talked about getting pucks to the net and more importantly getting bodies to the net. And I think for the most part of the night we did a good job of that.…
Mister Zero Jared Coreau has made all four of his NHL starts on the road and insists he prefers playing in hostile environments.
“I think energy’s a good thing, either if it’s against you or if it’s with you,… said Coreau, who blocked 34 shots for his first NHL shutout. “I just feed off it either way.…
Among his stops was on a first-period penalty-shot save, foiling L.A.’s Tanner Pearson with a stick save.
“Tanner Pearson’s a good player and he’s got a lot of goals in this league, so I was ready for anything - deke, shot, whatever,… Coreau said. “I think those are good to get momentum on your side.…
Injury Updates Detroit defensemen Brendan Smith (right knee) and Niklas Kronwall (lower body), both injured in Wednesday’s loss, didn’t play Thursday and won’t be available Saturday at San Jose either.
Smith reaggravated the same knee he originally sprained in a Nov. 26 game against Montreal.
“It’s a little sore right now,… Smith said. “We don’t have too much (in the way of) answers right now. We’re just going to wait until the swelling goes down, kind of take it from there.
“We’ll just have to see how everything goes in the next couple days and go about it like that.…
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